Suspended in "Xanadu", bubbles floating against beams of light, lasers and sing alongs.
This past Friday night, I went to see "Xanadu" with some really
nice folks and it was an interesting and highly entertaining way to see this
film. Its a hybrid musical (1980's meets the 1940's and other music genres
blender-pureed in) about a struggling artist who gets inspired by a whole
lotta magic sent his way in the form of a muse called "Kiraaaaaaaaahhhhh..."
She sings a lot and roller skates around a lot, wears flowing white
dresses and turns up where you least expect her to in such a way
that at one point someone in the audience couldn't help but scream out,
"STALKER!!!!"
The film takes on a whole different way of thinking about it when
people in the audience start singing along to the songs (Jeff Lynne, I
do salute you for these songs) and start blowing bubbles
into the air during a really pretty animation sequence. There was
also some waving of many glow sticks during the moment in the film
when ONJ/main muse Kira breaks down during "Suspended In Time";
her sadness over not being able to join her mortal buddy on the
night of his gala opening of Xanadu. The hottest, flashiest disco
in town.
I think people should check the film out despite its infamous tag as one of the
worst films of all time especially if there's a screening of it with the sing along.
Yeah, its a huge smoking concorde plane wreck of a mess but only in 1980 could
people let go like this and well, I love glowing neon haloes of light outlining shapes
of every living thing and people in shiny outfits roller skating like there's nothing
else to live for. The curious should check out the trailer here:
Xanadu seems to have gained midnight movie status around
2006, when in San Fransisco, at The Castro movie theatre it was
part of the Disco Roller-Skating triple feature there:
http://www.midnitesformaniacs.com/disco_rollerskating.htmand some people in attendance have commented on how awestruck they
were about the print that was screened which was in pristine and beautiful
condition with the colors bursting and the soundtrack sounding absolutely clear
and amazing. And loving the E.L.O. songs (that was the side I played the most
as a kid) I know I would have been buzzed as well. Its also been noted
that the best version of the soundtrack for all the music heads out there
is the UK import on vinyl. Its supposed to be superior to all the other
versions floating around out there. (yes I'm on the lookout for it)
At this same triple feature they screened "Skatetown U.S.A." and I think
I saw this on cable only once. Patrick Swayze looking very "Warriors"
and Scott Baio in the same movie. I have to see this again. Would like to read
fans comments on this film if you're out there. Damn amazing trailer here:
While watching Xanadu, I kept thinking Kira and her sisters remind me
of a group of other characters and I figured it out. Sailormoon. It was
a japanese animation series in the '90s about a group of girls that had the
same neon haloes of light outlining them with glitter and stars
flickering all around them like there was no tomorrow. And they
helped others out like the muses in Xanadu. I do not believe in
coincidences.
Just compare these two images below and I'll bet the people who created
Sailormoon had to have been inspired by Xanadu. Just look at all the faded
blues and glowing neon whites. The flowing locks of blonde tresses and yes
stars. Everywhere.
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
jr_1969's journal
grateful
giddy